Picture Book Planning

Picture Book Planning: Now that we have read a variety of picture book mentor texts and have begun brainstorming ideas, it is time to choose a more specific focus.

1. Overview - complete this page and bring to class on: Monday January 12.                                                              

Intended audience (check off one):

• Grades K-1
• Grades 2-3
• Grades 4-5

General topic (social issue, real-life experience, historical or current event, or person who makes a difference) I want to write about:

Main message I want my readers to understand:

The purpose of my book is to:

• bear witness (focus on suffering and tragedy)

• envision possibility (show readers that there is hope and that the problem can be improved)

• call to action (urge readers to act to improve a problem)

The type of story I want to write is:

• Allegory like Terrible Things by Eve Bunting or fantasy like The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
• Realistic or historical fiction like Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles
• Non-fiction like The Librarian of Basra by Jeanette Winter or And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson
• Poetry like Life Doesn’t Frighten Me by Maya Angelou or The Wreath of Emmett Till by Marilyn Nelson

My mentor text(s) I will use to help me write my picture book (choose one of the texts listed above + you may choose another text if you want to):

General ideas:

Character	Setting	Plot	Craft	Illustrations

II. Research: collect 2-3 sources to help you better understand your topic and include in your author’s note, and/or  to plan your illustrations. At least 1 source must be a nonfiction book, article, essay, interview, etc. Read and annotate your definite, relevant sources; research due: Friday January 16.

What do I know about my focus? Why do I want to write about it?

What outside texts or experiences relate to my focus and inspire me to write this book?

What do I want to know and research to better understand this?

Where and how will I obtain relevant sources?

What questions and uncertainties do I have regarding writing my picture book?

What are the steps I need to take between now and creating the first draft of my book?

III. Plan and Draft:

Plan and develop your story. Refer to your mentor text. Here are some ways to plan:

• Create a mountain of action or storyboard to show the plot.
• Create a character map of the main characters. Consider conflict, personality, identity, inner and external characteristics, strengths and weaknesses, and relationships with others.
• Draw or map out the setting. What are the most important features of the setting that contribute to readers’ understanding of plot, characters, conflict, etc.
• Make a synthesis page.

Plan Due:

1st draft of story due (must be typed): 810 - Wed 1/21; 811 - Fri 1/23; 812 - Thur 1/22.